I cannot understand people's antipathy to this brilliant and thoroughly enjoyable film, the work of a writer-director at the top of his game, enacted by a brilliant cast.
And notice those great well-hidden plot 'hinges' as Wilder called them, e.g. the early mention of the 'Helena' project - sound in space. And the atmosphere of Hawaii - that scene where Cooper and Stone are bickering, and then the wind (the 'menehune' incident), and their mood lightens immediately (something mystical about the island that Wilder would never have done). And when the boy drops his coat in the corridor and stoops to retrieve it - most directors wouldn't do that. And even that moment where Cooper walks into the kitchen and Eric Gauthier's camera is him, looming over McAdams bent down at the fridge. And of course - the hands - and that ending which is so moving.
I noticed 'What's in the box?¬!' in the concluding sound montage, which I guess is from Kiss Me Deadly.
It seems even the studio didn't like it (from leaked senior exec correspondence).
"This feels like a Monday sort of thing."
"You could have had the conversation and not known about it."
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